<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This Schedule Contains Summary Financial Information Extracted From The 
     Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Statement of Income found on
     pages 17 and 18 of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended September
     30, 1997 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
     statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                       12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                            43,984
<SECURITIES>                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                          0
<ALLOWANCES>                                           0
<INVENTORY>                                      604,591     
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 648,575
<PP&E>                                            13,124
<DEPRECIATION>                                         0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   719,794 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            101,699 
<BONDS>                                          355,315
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                            0
<COMMON>                                             373
<OTHER-SE>                                       262,407 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     719,794
<SALES>                                          837,280
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 837,280
<CGS>                                            685,341
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    685,341
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 5,150
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   59,894
<INCOME-TAX>                                      23,690
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               36,204
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                      36,204
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       1.01
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          0